Micro Focus Cobol doesn't allow calls to shared libraries

[Carlos F. Baladrón]

We used to build a big dynamic shared library using the linker "ld". The list of object files (most of them cobol programs) to link was taken from a text file.

The new version of "Micro Focus Cobol" doesn't allow calls to shared libraries created with the "ld" linker. You need to create the library using the tools provided with the compiler. The list of object files is taken from the command line arguments.

The problem is that we have thousands of object files, and to list all of them in the command line is not practical or even possible.

Is there any other way to avoid using the shared library but keep referring the objects from the application? (i.e. resolving the calls directly to the object, but keeping dynamic links)

What could be the consecuences of such a change? (i.e.: more memory usage, lower performance, etc.)

Thanks in advance and best regards,

[Steven E. Protter]

The last version of MF Cobol had a broken licensing system that required a complex procedure to make the productr work properly.

Based on about 7 years of working with MF, there is no way I know of to avoid the use of shared libraries. Its how the product needs to work.

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